Michael Carpenter
Bio:
Mike is an experienced lobbyist and government affairs and communications professional. He specializes in lobbying and managing state legislative issues, political and issue advocacy campaigns, and developing and implementing strategic plans to achieve our clients’ legislative and reputational objectives. In addition to state lobbying, he provides communications, consulting and procurement services to the firm’s biomedical, entertainment, government services, healthcare, hospitality and transportation clients.
Prior to co-founding the firm, he directed state government affairs for multinational corporations in California and other Western states, managing controversial legislative and regulatory issues. In addition to extensive state lobbying, he managed lobbying and political consulting firms in multiple states, and oversaw ballot initiative and candidate election activities.
He led a corporate public affairs department, overseeing communications, external affairs and philanthropic outreach activities throughout the United States. He launched major community relations programs in California, and has extensive public affairs experience, including coalition development, issue analysis and opinion research, communications, external relations and philanthropy programs, and grass roots advocacy. He has also served as a corporate spokesperson.
He was chief lobbyist and political director for a major statewide California trade association, where he lobbied the legislature and established the organization’s first election program.
He has been a frequent speaker and panelist before national and state organizations, including the American Public Relations Association, National Association of Latino Elected Officials, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National and State Conferences of the NAACP, State Policy Network, California Association of Realtors and California Chamber of Commerce. He has served on the boards of numerous statewide trade and policy organizations.
Mike graduated with highest honors from U.C. Berkeley and earned his law degree from the University of San Francisco. He was a litigation attorney with a San Francisco-based global law firm, representing clients in complex litigation, product liability, medical malpractice and securities litigation. He lives in Sacramento with his wife, Phyllis. They have two daughters, Lauren and Paige.